This morning I waited on Isaac to get to my house.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
My grandson, Isaac, enjoyed training dogs with me yesterday so I waited on him to get to my house this morning. He’s starting back to school tomorrow, fifth grade. I hid the pigeons, in release traps, in the tall weeds on the training ground. The last few mornings I have been putting Tur Bo’s birds close together. This morning they are separated like they are for the other dogs.
I heeled Tur Bo out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. I could see him through some brush. He went on point on the first bird then took a few steps and I flushed the pigeon. I lost sight of him then but when I came around a clump of brush, I saw him. He had stopped to flush. I went to him and stroked his sides, then kicked in front of him. I took some pictures and released him with a tap on the head and an okay.
He went all the way to the back and pointed the farthest pigeon. I took some pictures and walked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and he took a few steps. I held the button on the e-collar, on his flanks, down on level 4, picked him up and set him back. When his feet hit the ground I let off on the e-collar button. I kicked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He took a few steps again. Again I held the button on the e-collar down. It was on level 4 and I held it down until his feet hit the ground. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and released him.
He was on the wrong side of the third pigeon when he got some scent. He pointed then took a step and I flushed the pigeon. He whirled around but stopped to flush. I kicked in the cover where the bird flushed from then shot the blank pistol. Today, the blank pistol was like a release command. I stopped him with the e-collar and set him back. I walked in front of him with blank pistol in one hand and the e-collar transmitter in the other. I shot the blank pistol and he started moving. I hit the button on the e-collar on his flanks, immediately, and he stopped. I set him back. I kicked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He moved and I hit the button on the e-collar. I didn’t have to carry him as far this time. I walked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and I hit the button on the e-collar on his flanks. I set him back. I kicked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I’m glad he didn’t move, the blank pistol was empty. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run for a little while before returning to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I asked Isaac which dog he wanted me to get next and he said, “Luke, he’s really fast and I like to see him run.” I do, too. Wanting to see the dogs run is what gets us all started. He may be a dog trainer, one day. I whoaed Luke near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released Luke.
He pointed the middle pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I stroked his sides, kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay.
He went on to the back and pointed the farthest bird. I took more pictures then walked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. Luke took a step or two. I was so surprised that I didn’t do anything for a few seconds, then I hit the e-collar. I held the button down until I carried him back. I walked in front of him, then got on the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and released him.
Luke was on the wrong side of the last pigeon I had out for him. He smelled the bird but wasn’t sure where it was so I flushed it. He stopped to flush. I walked in front of him kicking the cover and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I went to him, stroked his sides and tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run then we returned to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I whoaed Blaze near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on her flanks and neck. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her. She pointed the first pigeon and I took pictures. I walked in front of her kicking the tall grass then flushed the pigeon. She didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. I held the button on the e-collar, on her flanks, down while I set her back. When her feet touched the ground I let off the button. I kicked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and released her.
The wind had been swirling around all morning and all the dogs had been having trouble pinpointing the birds. Blaze pointed the bird at the back then started on like she had lost the scent. I flushed the pigeon and she stopped to flush. I walked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I tapped her on the head for a release.
On the way back through the training grounds she pointed the middle bird. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then came back and stroked her sides. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her. I let her run some before going back to the kennel.
Shooting the blank pistol like I did with Tur Bo may break them steady to shot quicker than just shooting one time on each bird. I may try this for awhile to see how it works. In about 2 minutes I shot over Tur Bo 4 or 5 times. On the last one he quit moving. It’s worth a try.